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Reviewed by Jasmine O'Hea for Readers' Favorite
In Devon Jeffers Valdes’ southern drama Beneath the Smiling Moon, 29-year-old Izzie Burke is teetering between two versions of her life. On the bright side, she enjoys working as a barista and is a few credits shy of her BA in art history. But Izzie, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder like her late father, often uses alcohol to take the edge off. Since being alienated from her family, she is taking the edge off more than she’d like to admit. Thankfully, Izzie can rely on her best friend Annie for support. Annie introduces Izzie to her coworker, Jesse, and sparks fly. Izzie starts to make amends with her family, but then an unthinkable accident plummets her to rock bottom. In the aftermath, Izzie realizes she can’t white-knuckle her way through life. It is only through acceptance and forgiveness that she can receive the unconditional love she’s seeking.
Devon Jeffers Valdes’ novel begins with an immersive scene of Izzie hitting a new low, evoking both compassion and a sense of foreboding about where her addiction might drag her. The main characters are written with nuance, and the author does not shy away from the painful realities of dealing with mental health challenges and the struggle to find balance. I sympathized with Izzie, and also with her family and friends who are in the precarious position of navigating their relationship with her as she grows increasingly unpredictable. For all the darkness the characters encounter, Beneath the Smiling Moon brims with hope. The plot moves at an engaging pace and the author brings the Georgia setting to life with rich sensory details. Ultimately, this novel is a poignant reminder that we cannot conquer our demons alone.
